c 521-97, abbot
Feast day 9th June
Born in Donegal of the royal Ui Neill clan, trained as a
monk by St Finnian. Founded monasteries of Derry, Durrow
and, probably, Kells. Left Ireland in 563, for reasons
unknown, with twelve companions for Iona, an island off SW
Scotland given by the ruler of the Irish Dalriada. Spent
rest of his life, apart from occasional returns to Ireland,
in Scotland where he would appear to be leader of the Irish
in Scotland rather than the apostle of Scotland.
Principal source of information is the famous Life by
St Adamnan (Adomnan) from
which he emerges as a forceful, charismatic personality
combining the skills of scholar, poet and ruler.
Although he founded two churches in Inverness it would
appear that much of his missionary work, away from the Irish
part of Scotland, has been exaggerated or confused with a
later followers or near name-sake St Colm of Buchan.
